Mail List Discussion from Topic 23
Karen M. Drabenstott
Associate Professor, SILS
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1092 USA
Voice: 1-734-763-3581
Fax: 1-734-764-2475
karen.drabenstott@umich.edu
New Topic: Generating New Topics
I would like the thank Peter Underwood and Kathryn Baker for leading our discussion on "Producing Leaders." This was our first experiment with the dual-editor idea. Not only did Peter and Kathryn stimulate a lively discussion, they accomplished this from different continents and hemispheres. Thanks again to our LISTSERV editors and their willingness to try a new approach to LISTSERV editing.
Since many of us around the world will be vacationing during a holiday break and celebrating the new year, I felt that the next three weeks (December 17 to January 6) would be a good time to obtain your suggestions for new topics for discussion for the new year.
We have several topics on tap for discussion:
January 7 - 20
Functioning in a political environment, Bruce E. Daniels
January 21 - February 3
Relationship of theory and practice in information-intensive environments, William Liebi
February 4 - 17
Global information systems and services, Pauline Cochrane
February 18 - March 2
Management encore, Marion Paris
March 3 - 16
Transforming the traditional to the new age, Ling Hwey Jeng
When discussing new topics, please keep in mind the objective of the Kellogg CRISTAL-ED LISTSERV: to discover the knowledge and skills for a new academic program that is committed to producing leaders who will create, organize, manage, and apply new forms of libraries and information environments to meet human needs.
Our discussion of new topics will start today and will extend through January 6. Let the discussion begin!
Rebekah Azen
Librarian
Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College
Cloquet, MN 55720
Voice: (218) 879-0837
razen@asab.fdl.cc.mn.us
Librarianship for an Ethnically Diverse Nation
As yet, there has been no discussion that I am aware of, that speaks to this very important issue. As a tribal college librarian and one who has been involved in American Indian libraries/librarianship, I have learned a great deal about the ethnocentrism that exists within our profession which is mostly of the unexamined, subconscious, garden variety type. Whether we're talking about cataloging, acquisitions, indexing, reference services or just plain the availability of libraries and information services, we're not on an even playing field; or more accurately, we're not even on the same ball field. An examination and acknowledgement of the inequities in library and information services to various constituencies is a start. We must recognize the profession of librarianship as definitively western in its orientation, both in theory and practice, and how blind we are to its precepts. I believe that significant contributions to the profession will be made when the profession is willing to broaden its scope and reexamine its foundations. I very much look forward to a discussion around these issues. Thank you.
Jim Curtis
Portage Lake District Library
Houghton, MI
curtisj@mlc.lib.mi.us
How about the discussing the practical use of technologies (videotapes, satellite communications, Internet, etc.) for the delivery of information education to students in remote areas?
Stephen Michael Barnett
Lecturer, Learning Services
Torrens Valley Institute of Tafe
100 Smart Road Modbury 5092
South Australia
Voice: int 61 8 207 8103
Fax: int 61 8 207 8008
stevebar@tafe.sa.edu.au
Income Generation in the Library in an Electronic Age?
A colleague and I are discussing virtual futures, what is the feeling and thoughts out there on libraries being forced by budget cuts to generate income. Traditional means such as bookshops, document reproduction services, etc., may change to ???????
- Web authoring/web services
- Bureau information services
- Page charges for document downloads
What do you think?
What are some suitable references/conference papers?
Thanks for help and comments!
I like the idea of exploring information education/LIS education "distance learning opportunities. I am in Nebraska and the closest ALA LIbrary school is five hours away. Even with Emporia State's outreach program, logistics is a real problem. This deserves some attention.
Secondly, although I am sure the topic has been beaten to death, what about copyright laws and the changes coming down the pike due to Internet use? Are there any good references that might offer a beginner's look at copyright in libraries? I welcome any suggestions on where/how to start.
Happy holidays - wherever you are.
Anna Noakes
School of Information and Library Studies
The University of Michigan
anoakes@umich.edu
I would like to see more discussion on ways that ILS schools could forge stronger ties with the business community, and promote additional research in the areas of business information systems; corporate document storage, retrieval and repurposing; image databases; and business communications.
Boris Raymond
Sociology Department
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Canada
BRAYMOND@ac.dal.ca
What other functions do public libraries, school libraries and undergraduate academic libraries have besides that of providing "information," and what academic training do these functions require in ADDITION to that of some familiarity with "information technology?"
Peter Graham
Rutgers University Libraries
169 College Ave.
New Brunswick, NJ 08903
Voice: (908) 445-5908
Fax: (908) 445-5888
psgraham@gandalf.rutgers.edu
Should library schools focus on particular forms of librarianship? E.g., one school choosing to be the best in the country for school and children's librarianship, another choosing to focus on research and academic librarianship, and the like. From a research library administration perspective, I would find great value in seeing a curriculum focused on such needs and with expertise so located. Yet I have heard good arguments against such an idea. Airing the topic in a public discussion might be useful.
Paul M. Gherman
Director of Libraries
Olin and Chalmers Library
Kenyon College
Gambier, OH 43022
Voice: (614) 427-5186
Fax: (614) 427-2272
ghermanp@kenyon.edu
Do libraries have a new role to plan in the shift from teaching to learning, as faculty move from being "the sage on the stage, to the guide by the side?" I think we do have a role helping faculty use the new electronic information resources in their teaching. CNI has sponsored several "New Learning Communities" workshops with invited institutions of higher learning to share their experiences in this area. Should these new models of librarianship be added to library school curriculum?
I would like to strongly second Alicia's three suggestions:
>1. What career opportunities are available which require the skill sets of an MLS which are outside the traditional library setting?
>2. How do we market our skills (the MLS) to the "corporate world?"
>3. Is there a future where the library would (could) be a "for-profit" organization with a consulting/service group as a core business? I was thinking that a person could sell their skills in developing data models for databases, design home pages for web sites, perform research.
Paul Doty
Information Literacy Librarian
Jim Dan Hill Library
University of Wisconsin Superior
pdoty@wpo.uwsuper.edu
I would suggest that we shift the light from "information skills" to text, and consider the impact an online environment has on intake. If one accepts that multimedia and interactive formats are going to increasingly be the medium of publication what role should librarians play in assisting students (readers) in the changes that graphics, audio, video, bring when they are included with the text, or even supplant the text, of a publication in an electronic form.
Is a "library" a place or a gathering of information electronic or otherwise?
>What other functions do public libraries, school libraries and undergraduate academic libraries have besides that of providing "information," and what academic training do these functions require in ADDITION to that of some familiarity with "information technology?"
They have the responsibility of imparting knowledge- a significant step higher in human needs.
Vickie L. Kline
Head of Technical Services
Schmidt Library
York College of Pennsylvania
York, PA 17405-7199
Voice: (717) 846-7788 x1459
Fax: (717) 849-1608
Kline@yorkcol.edu
Is there a need for a broader spectrum of Ph.D. programs in library science? (Most seem to be geared towards teaching library school or pursuing research.)
Susan M. Allen
Director of Libraries and Media Services
Kalamazoo College Library
1200 Academy Street
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49006-3285
Voice: (616) 337-7149
Fax: (616) 337-7143
sallen@kzoo.edu
May I suggest the following discussion question in conjunction with Peter Graham's suggestion about the need to discuss "specialty programs." As schools of information science focus toward "information" and away from "library," who will provide education for rare books and manuscripts librarians? These professionals require in-depth training in bibliography, cataloging, preservation, history of the book, etc. as well as management and the current technologies of information science. These professionals must be forward looking while remaining knowledgeable about traditional collections and practices.
Karen M. Drabenstott
Associate Professor, SILS
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1092 USA
Voice: 1-734-763-3581
Fax: 1-734-764-2475
karen.drabenstott@umich.edu
More New Topics
Thanks to the many CRISTAL-ED LISTSERV members who have been submitting prospective LISTSERV topics. On occasion, members submit topics to me directly and I am listing them below. Feel free to comment on these topics and the other topics the members have suggested. Such comments help to identify which topics would make for a lively, spirited discussion.
- Encouraging Coloring Outside the Lines -- How do we help the
profession to get more creative and be risk takers (I know someone will say, "but if we do, they'll just get jobs in places where they won't be allowed to use it..." well, if we create strong ones and/or enough of them, they'll have an impact on the profession.
- Creating Excited Professionals -- We have five professional positions
open right now (two should be filled this week after two weeks of interviews... yea!). What I'm noticing is that the professionals who are excited to be librarians are the ones I'm supportive of. It's not just background and experience. If they aren't excited about doing this as best as I can read them and their references, we don't want 'em (big surprise...). Anyway, I want library schools to instill not only the education, I want them to be excited by the time they get out.
- For academic librarians in particular, I bet a discussion on how
we can get more diversity in subject background. There's a new topic, eh? But... It's still important.
- And speaking of diversity, I don't remember a discussion of this
lately on here.
- How much technology does a librarian need to know? A few
institutions are merging library and computing functions. How much technology is too much? How much technology is too little? Where's the line? Where are library schools drawing the line? Is it too conservative? (topic covers hardware, software, AND communications).
- Training/teaching -- Training has always been important, but I see a
growing role for it. Are library schools providing the preparation in the areas of learning styles, course design, course management, and evaluation?
- Facilitating/group process -- What are/should library schools be
doing to prepare students to become group facilitators -- an important skill for most librarians?
- How can we improve communication between library schools and us out
here?
- With so many computing professionals and librarians moving into
each other's roles, some people have asked me... "What the #$%^+ is a computing professional anyway!?!" I have a feeling that there is a discussion behind this question...
- How can library schools help us (library practitioners and
administrators) with the issues of minority recruitment, minority retention, and the broader topic of diversity in the workplace?
- What would be the value to the students if LIS faculty were
required to periodically required to work in a library/information setting? (kinda like a work sabbatical) (I bet this one doesn't fly, but just as a librarian I think it would be interesting to hear some of the comments...).
- Serving disadvantaged populations in a electronically impoverished
environment.
- Does human-computer interaction (HCI) belong in a future-oriented
curriculum for educating information professionals?
- What is electronic information publishing and does it belong in a
future-oriented curriculum for educating information professionals?
Also, I am always searching for volunteers to be guest editors for suggested topics. If you have a topic in mind or find a topic from the above list especially interesting, please message me directly about your interest and I will send you details on guest editor tasks and responsibilities.
Please keep the suggestions for new topics coming. Steve Wooldridge, CRISTAL-ED LISTSERV technical moderator, and I also send you our best wishes for a happy, productive New Year.
Ben Speller
North Carolina Central University
School of Library and Information Sciences
Durham, NC
speller@nccu.edu
Looking at what needs to be read about the new opportunities for information organization and delivery, I would suggest that we need more solid subject specialties offered in conjunction with library science or information science. If the doctorate is for research in a specialty and teaching of course(s) that directly or indirectly relate to the specialty, I would suggest that advanced study beyond the MLS for other reasons would related to what the individual needs to learn relating to the advanced assignment. A public library director (public administration?). An academic library director (Ph.D. in subject field), plus one of the University Management Programs offered by "B" Schools sometimes in conjunction with a LIS program.
I am not discounting the Ph.D. in the Library Schools, but I am concerned about what is being called the specialties and where they are being taught.
Alicia Crumpton
Student - SILS
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
crumpton@umich.edu
Other areas of interest:
- What career opportunities are available which require the skill
sets of an MLS which are outside the traditional library setting?
- How do we market our skills (the MLS) to the "corporate world"?
- Is there a future where the library would (could) be a "for-profit"
organization with a consulting/service group as a core business? I was thinking that a person could sell their skills in developing data models for databases, design home pages for web sites, perform research...
The possibilities are endless.
Got to reply to this.
- If librarianship does have a Western orientation, SO WHAT?
- How does ethnocentrisim affect our daily routine? WHAT about the
profession would change if it was not Western oriented?
Better late than never I suppose, but the concept of leadership takes most of my time nowadays. Why? Because I have to lead my staff to do more with less, and I have to lead my patrons to do more of the things we formerly did for them. We can manage these changes and do it right, but that is not leadership. Leadership is, in a nutshell, doing the right thing. That means above all else being attuned to the personal and professional needs of people involved in the entire process. It involves cultivating that most difficult skill -- listening. I applaud this new focus on leadership development.
